Blog

By modefor, Sep 21 2018 10:11AM

The sound of an acoustic guitar ﬂoated through the lawns at Hargate Hall this weekend, as our beautiful bride Sarah, took the long walk from the main hall to picturesque summer house in the garden.

Green Days’ - Time of your life was the couples chosen soundtrack. The sun shone and a light breeze genteelly rustled the trees, Alex looked up and smiled at his bride as she walked towards him. Sarah looked stunning, with an exquisitely detailed wedding dress that just kissed the ﬂoor and a bouquet of bright colour ﬂowers that only added to Sarah's beauty.

This was the ﬁrst outdoor ceremony I've seen at Hargate and it was pretty special! Sarah and Alex’s wedding was the perfect start to our month of September weddings at Hargate Hall.

The sun continued to shine as guests drank prossecco and cocktails after the ceremony on the Terrace. The groomsmen had set up an incredible cocktail bar and all the children played garden games and enjoyed the bouncy castle. It was such a lovely atmosphere; a wedding ﬁlled with laughter, love and friendship.

The wedding breakfast was incredible too and we loved supplying the food. Our favourite Italian style sharing starter boards of cheeses, meats and antipasti veg. followed by delicious chicken and mash, accompanied by fresh chanteray carrots and crisp green beans. For dessert we served an amazing sharing plate, piled high with chocolate torte, lemon tart and local Bakewell tart, with of course - lashings of fresh cream!

We loved decorating the marquee with over 100 colourful lanterns, adorning the ceiling and transforming our beloved marquee. With all the ﬂowers and centre pieces styled by Mode For... it was a busy weekend for us.

Sarah and Alex fell in love with Hargate Hall and we are so happy we could make their wedding day dreams come true. Wishing you so much happiness.

By modefor, Sep 10 2018 06:18AM

On Saturday the 25th of August we celebrated the wedding of our wonderful couple, Ruth and Chris.

The industrial setting of The Arches, once again saw an incredible transformation with creative styling, stunning floral displays and of course lots of individual and personal touches carefully selected by our lovely bride and groom.

The styling on the day focussed on striking rose gold metallics complimented by the delicate hues of dusky pink and violet blooms which added a dash of glam to the venue's industrial stone work. A lush green foilage wall provided a stunning back drop for the wedding ceremony itself and pretty candle lit lanterns dotted along the aisle added that extra romantic sparkle.

Bride Ruth's creative and artistic flair could be seen all around the venue, a beautiful hand drawn table plan and carefully handwritten signage, added a lovely personal touch. Ruth's Grandad had also made some giant, wooden light up letters of the couples initials which were a great focal point.

The scene was set for a fabulous day ahead and as guests arrived for the 2pm ceremony they were welcomed by wonderful live music from a musician who would provide an eclectic musical sound track for guests to dance and sing a long to throughout the whole day.

Ruth looked simply gorgeous when she arrived. Her stunning, traditional white gown, with a pretty sweet heart neckline and all over shimmer lace was perfectly accessorised with a flowing white veil and bridal bouquet of lavender tones and deep blue french hydrangeas. Her pretty team of bridesmaids, dressed in a powdery, cool grey complemented the silvery grey and white marble effect wedding cake, lovingly designed and made by Ruth's Grandma; Ruth's favourite colour!

After a relaxed ceremony and fabulous photos by Adam Wilkinson Photography Mr and Mrs Pickard and guests enjoyed a delicious wedding breakfast by in-house caterers Eat me - Drink Me. As guests made their way to be seated they 'oohed and ahhed' at childhood photographs of Ruth and Chris which provided cute table number settings. The children were kept well entertained with treasure chest colouring sets and a children's corner set up with jigsaws and fun activities to keep them busy!

As the party and dancing continued into the evening, guests were treated to a sweety station and wonderful street-food.

It was such a privilege to co-ordinate this wedding and work with such a lovely couple. A fantastic day was had by all.

By modefor, Sep 3 2018 10:20AM

After three long years of planning and preparing, Gemma and Aaron got Married last weekend at Hargate Hall and we had so much fun celebrating with them.

The Friday set up was a family affair, with everyone getting stuck in and helping to prepare the marquee. As we all worked together to string the beautiful ivy from the ceilings and draping it throughout the marquee, we could hear the rain. Hammering down, it had gone really dark outside and every time we carried things from the car we got soaked!

Gemma looked at me and asked if the weather would be like this tomorrow? Now at Mode For… we are complete perfectionists and control freaks (it’s why we are so good at planning weddings) but the one thing we can’t control is the weather! Fast forward to Saturday afternoon and as the happy couple burst through the beautiful doors at Hargate Hall we wished them congratulations in the glorious sunshine. Gemma turned to me and said, “I can’t believe this weather, it’s beautiful!”.

Rain or shine your wedding will be beautiful too. But the best part of any wedding for us is seeing the bride and groom so completely happy and relaxed. Gemma and Aaron were so happy, stress free and calm - they were able to enjoy every moment of their wedding day.

As well as coordinating the wedding day, Mode For… catered for the wedding breakfast. Preparing our signature delicious antipasti sharing platters: piled high with Italian deli meats and cheeses, mountains of fresh rustic bread and marinated vegetables for starters. Followed by Italian style chicken wrapped in bacon stuffed full with pesto and smothered in our (secret recipe) house tomato and basil sauce, with stacks of dauphinoise potatoes and steamed vegetables. It was a feast! For dessert all the guests tucked in to the incredible wedding cake and scrumptious brownies, Eton mess and cookies, provided by their incredible family.

There were so many amazing homemade touches and thoughtful additions to Gemma and Aaron’s wedding, the memory table and beautiful guest book showed how much planning and attention to detail the couple had.

Gemma & Aaron, we wish you all the happiness in the world, thank you for letting us be such a big part of your special day.

Are you worried about feeling stressed on your wedding day? Are you feeling the pressure? Do you need help or tips on how to stay calm? We pride ourselves on creating the most relaxed and calm weddings. Tabby, our in house #Weddingfixer has an amazing free Facebook group that can help even the most anxious of brides www.facebook.com/groups/theweddingﬁxer. Whatever you do please don’t worry. Sunshine or showers - your wedding will be great!

By modefor, Aug 13 2018 07:32AM

All things bright and beautiful as The Arches is transformed into an industrial garden paradise for the wedding of Estee and Josh.

On Saturday the 28th of July, our favourite industrial wedding venue was breathtakingly transformed into a chic, urban glasshouse with a distinctively botanical feel.

The large glass windows were expertly styled with lush displays of flora and fauna. Vibrant green pot plants and pops of zesty oranges and pinks added to the tropical feel whilst an abundance of ferns and foliage added softness to the botanical garden vibe.

This relaxed and tranquil sanctuary was the perfect location for Estee and Josh to celebrate their wedding day with family and friends and what a fabulously relaxed and happy time was had by all!

The 2pm ceremony was very much a family affair, a joyous occasion full of song, dance and praise with Estee and Josh's family and friends taking a lead role in the proceedings. A live band, made up of friends of the bride and groom provided wonderful music throughout the hour-long ceremony and Estee's bridesmaid's beautiful singing voice had guests dancing and singing in the aisles, as they embraced the joyful atmosphere.

The stormy weather on the day didn't dampen spirits and several rainstorms and deluges only added to the magical atmosphere. As thunder rumbled in the distance, there was a pause for reflection before more happiness and rejoicing, as Mr and Mrs Mellor danced down the aisle whilst family and friends clapped and cheered.

So much singing and dancing was clearly very thirsty work and as the cloud bursts continued after the ceremony, guests sipped on Pimms cocktails and relaxed and chatted in the beautiful garden like surroundings.

Bride Estee looked stunningly beautiful in her dress, a champagne bodice overlaid with an intricate floral themed lace design, accessorized perfectly with a pretty art deco style bridal halo. Her effortlessly romantic bridesmaids were dressed in flowing Grecian style gowns and floral bouquets and halos were kept pure and neutral. An image that wouldn't have looked out of place in a glossy bridal magazine. Just beautiful!

By modefor, Jul 31 2018 08:25AM

On Saturday we celebrated the wedding of Nat and Tom at Hargate Hall and it was incredible.

Nat and Tom were so cool and calm and this was reﬂected throughout the whole wedding weekend. They set the tone from the second they arrived with chilled out vibes and a relaxed atmosphere.

The marquee had so many beautiful personal touches. Homemade bunting, homegrown ﬂowers and tables sprinkled with photographs of happy guests and good memories. We loved helping Nat setup on the Friday before the big day.

Tom had designed an amazing Hargate print that was used for the weekend programme and table layout. The couple chose a light lilac colour scheme that effortlessly linked the main hall, the marquee and all the ﬂowers.

The 2pm ceremony start gave everyone the morning to get ready and be completely stress free. With all the ﬁnal touches complete, Nat took her long walk down the beautiful centrepiece staircase with her father. The highlight of the ceremony was the acoustic singalong to Stevie Wonder's - Signed, Sealed, Delivered! The happy cheers and signing drifted out of the hall onto the terrace, ﬁlling us with so much joy!

We served canapés and reception drinks in front of the striking Hargate lawns and had some lovely group photos taken by Adam Wilkinson.

The wedding breakfast was a fantastic sharing feast and Mode For… did, what we do best. Cold meats, cheeses, rustic fresh bread and delicious Italian antipasti veg to start. Followed by the most incredible mouth-watering Paella, served in huge dishes on the tables for everyone to tuck into and share. We believe this helps create relaxed and stress-free weddings - great food and lovely people, drinking, eating and sharing together.

We love wedding speeches here at Mode For... and Tom’s was no exception with lots of “ahhh’s” and tears it was a fantastic end to the wedding breakfast.

Cake and cheese were then served on the Terrace in the sunshine, and the guests enjoyed the 'oh so chic’ espresso martinis on the lawn in the coolest pop up we have ever seen!

With a six-piece band, an open bar and a room full of inﬂatable guitars we left the couple late on Saturday evening knowing the party had only just gotten started! Nat and Tom, we wish you a lifetime of happiness and adventures! Thank you for letting us be a part of your special day!